Virgin Atlantic has plans to open another lounge in the United States, in a terminal that could certainly use some more lounge capacity (thanks to Justin for flagging this).
In this post:
Basics of the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX TBIT
There are plans for a Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse to open at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The 4,401 square foot lounge will be located in Tom Bradley International Terminal (TBIT), on level six. Specifically, Virgin Atlantic will take over the space of the former Etihad Lounge, which closed during the pandemic, when Etihad discontinued flights to the airport.
While the airline hasn’t formally announced these plans, we know this update based on a Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) Board of Airport Commissioners meeting, as that’s how the concept is being approved. For those curious about the economics, Virgin Atlantic will have to spend around $2 million to refurbish the existing lounge space, at which point the lease will commence. The airline will pay around $1.2 million per year in rent, with an initial five year contract that can be extended by another five years.
We don’t yet know when the lounge will open, but given the pace at which airport approvals happen, plus how long airport construction takes, I’d expect it to be in 2025 at the earliest.
This will be the fourth Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse location in the United States, complementing locations in New York (JFK), San Francisco (SFO), and Washington (IAD). Interestingly, there was actually a Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse in Los Angeles back in the day, in Terminal 2. It opened in 2015, and closed in 2021, with plans to become part of an expansion of the adjacent Delta Sky Club.
Virgin Atlantic currently sends its premium passengers at LAX to the Star Alliance Lounge.
My take on the new Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX
I’m excited to hear about the new Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX, and have a few thoughts.
For one, additional lounge capacity is always a good thing, given how chronically overcrowded airport lounges are. That’s especially true at LAX TBIT, since so many passengers are eligible for lounge access. This lounge space has been sitting empty for a few years, so I’m happy to see that there are plans for it once again.
Second, while the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX will likely be restricted to eligible premium passengers ahead of Virgin Atlantic departures, I would guess that this lounge will be open to Priority Pass members over other hours, as that’s the case with other Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse locations in the United States. So this should add a much needed Priority Pass option in the terminal.
Lastly, Virgin Atlantic Clubhouses generally have a great soft product, with a la carte dining and great cocktails. However, let me just acknowledge that the actual space the lounge is taking over leaves quite a bit to be desired. It’s not a very big lounge, and it lacks views. So I’m sure some Virgin Atlantic customers will miss having access to the Star Alliance Lounge, which at least has a terrace, is spacious, and has apron views.
Bottom line
Plans have been revealed for a Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse to open at LAX, in Tom Bradley International Terminal. Virgin Atlantic will be taking over the space of the former Etihad Lounge, which is roughly 4,400 square feet, and on level six. I’m happy to see Virgin Atlantic making a lounge comeback at LAX, after the carrier closed its previous lounge a few years ago.
What do you make of plans for the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse LAX?
Why is Virgin Atlantic building a new lounge at LAX? They used to have a lounge but gave that space to Delta if memory serves. Delta is also opening a Delta One lounge at LAX. And Air France has a lounge at LAX too. Seems absurd that Virgin Atlantic, which is not profitable, is building a lounge for the sake of having lounge. No wonder Virgin Atlantic doesn’t make money.
I, for one, am happy that someone is taking over the old Etihad lounge... it is has been empty for far too long. VS will do a good job making the space work.
Won't there be a Delta One lounge at LAX, so does it even make sense to have one though? I'm not complaining about it since VS Clubhouses are nice, but I'd expect the Delta One lounge to be better anyhow.
I thought Global Airlines was going to lease it as James was touring it and posting about it a while back. I guess Virgin outbid him.
According to LAWA, "Virgin was the only respondent and requested to lease the 4,401 square feet lounge space".
With Air France opening a lounge in TBIT as well, seems like Air France and Virgin could coordinated this better and shared an investment in one SkyTeam lounge.
That would probably be the last thing on earth that AF/KL would want to do.
The KE lounge already serves as the de facto SkyTeam lounge at LAX, and it's of much lower (soft and hard product) quality.
Why would AF want that traffic suddenly shifting (primarily) to its brand new location, for which it's trying to cater to its F/Premier pax?
It’s not something they can stop if a passenger is flying F/J or is elite plus in skyteam
I don't know about AF/KL, but VS can absolutely turn away skyteam elites. If you're on KL/AF, they will send you to the KL/AF lounge.
I would suspect that this lounge opening in LAX will be a part of PP. Virgin Atlantic lounges at IAD, JFK and SFO (limited hours for PP) all show as available on my Priority Pass membership.
Is it still the case that, as a Plaza Premium lounge, the other Virgin clubhouses can be accessed by just showing an Amex Plat or Capital One Venture X?
The VS lounges are no longer part of the Plaza Premium group, Sodexo who run the LHR Clubhouse took over a few years back.
Sodexo , AKA prison cafeteria company, that is very appropriate. I have consulted at so many clients whose cafeteria was run by Sodexo (I know that they also do school cafeteria) - all of those could be summed to one scene where lunch lady serves Bart with "Imitation Gruel"
Ha, agree! Sodexo is our hospital supplier too, I call them the stadium food company.
Odd. I actually like being able to use the Star Alliance lounge with its terrace: views, fire pits, comfy couches, and just being outside when spending 10 hours on a plane. Also, not sure how Virgin can afford this right now, unless the rent and refurbishment is cheaper than what star alliance is charging.
I really wish this lounge becomes available to PP. It sucks that LAX doesn't have any proper PP lounge..
And it's off topic, but does anyone know why VS is struggling? Their reviews are great, load factor's decent but they're in tremendous amount of debt and haven't made profit since pandemic.
There seems to be something they're losing money for, but I have no idea... Is it because of their parent company?
I wonder if they're doing a sustainable business.
Don’t forget in transatlantic traffic all costs and revenue are shared with DL/AF/KL as part of JV